Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • About
  • Who we are
  • News
  • Events
  • Publications
  • Search

Secondary Menu

  • Independent Science for Development CouncilISDC
    • Who we are
    • News
    • Events
    • Publications
    • Featured Projects
      • Inclusive Innovation
        • Agricultural Systems Special Issue
      • Proposal Reviews
        • 2025-30 Portfolio
        • Reform Advice
      • Foresight & Trade-Offs
        • Megatrends
      • QoR4D
      • Comparative Advantage
  • Standing Panel on Impact AssessmentSPIA
    • About
      • Who We Are
      • Our Mandate
      • Impact Assessment Focal Points
      • SPIA Affiliates Network
    • Our Work
      • Country Studies
        • Community of Practice
        • Bangladesh Study
        • Ethiopia Study
        • Uganda Study
        • Vietnam Study
      • Causal Impact Assessment
        • Call for Expressions of Interest: Accountability and Learning Impact Studies
      • Use of Evidence
      • Cross-Cutting Areas
        • Capacity Strengthening
        • Methods and Measurement
        • Guidance to IDTs
    • Resources
      • Publications
      • Blog Series on Qualitative Methods for Impact Assessment
      • SPIA-emLab Agricultural Interventions Database
    • Activities
      • News
      • Events
      • Webinars
  • Evaluation
    • Who we are
    • News
    • Events
    • Publications
    • Evaluations
      • Science Group Evaluations
      • Platform Evaluations
        • CGIAR Genebank Platform Evaluation
        • CGIAR GENDER Platform Evaluation
        • CGIAR Excellence in Breeding Platform
        • CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture
    • Framework and Policy
      • Evaluation Method Notes Resource Hub
      • Management Engagement and Response Resource Hub
      • Evaluating Quality of Science for Sustainable Development
      • Evaluability Assessments – Enhancing Pathway to Impact
      • Evaluation Guidelines
  • Independent Science for Development CouncilISDC
  • Standing Panel on Impact AssessmentSPIA
  • Evaluation
Back to IAES Main Menu

Mind the Gap: Intra-household gender dynamics and agricultural technology adoption in Tunisia

You are here

  • Home
  • Independent Science for Development CouncilISDC
  • Events
  • 2023 Science Forum
  • Mind the Gap: Intra-household gender dynamics and agricultural technology adoption in Tunisia

Abstract: ISDC Science Forum 2023

Dina Najjar, Senior Gender Scientist, ICARDA

The Middle East and North Africa region remains largely marginalized from the discussion on how agricultural extension can be gender-responsive to simultaneously support increased technology adoption and women’s empowerment in rural areas. We contribute to this discussion by examining how ‘Mind the Gap’ project impacted women's participation in household decision-making related to crop and livestock and adoption of agricultural technologies, namely barley and feed blocks. The project was implemented in two regions of central Tunisia, Zaghouan and Kairouan, which focus on mixed farming and livestock production.  

The project employed mixed-methods research. Randomized Control Trials (RCTs) included 700 households which were divided into four treatment groups: T1 – Business as usual (BAU) (targeting primarily men and women heads of household with technical information); T2 – BAU with economic and organizational training (targeting primarily men and women heads of household); T3 – BAU with men and women trained (separately) on economic and organizational matters; and T4 – BAU with women trained on economic and organizational training. In addition, qualitative data from 240 farmers (half men and half women) were collected to understand the underlying reasons and processes for adoption and participation in decision-making.   

Findings reveal that when women were recipients of SMS messages on agricultural technologies (directly or through their husbands) suggests that there was an increase in both the adoption and intention to adopt Kounouz barley variety. Households where husbands reported women’s involvement in decision-making around adoption had higher adoption rates for Konouz barley variety as well as intention to adopt. Qualitative interviews revealed that feed blocks were found useful by women more than men. On the other hand, barley was found useful to both genders. This might explain the low adoption rates for feed blocks. The Findings also reveal that in addition to participating in in-person training, increasing women’s decision-making power was positively affected by generating off-farm income and increased involvement in agricultural labor. Finally, we found that generally, men were far more likely to experience increased decision-making in agriculture and livestock due to the treatments. Women, on the other hand, were significantly more likely to attribute their own success and ability to have a successful business to destiny. This suggests the need to go beyond targeting women and addressing cultural and gender norms.   

Speaker Bio

Dr. Dina Najjar 

Dina Najjar is a Senior Gender Scientist and has joined ICARDA in 2014 as a social and gender specialist. A socio-cultural anthropologist by training, she focuses on the link between gender equality and policies; agricultural technologies and delivery systems; rural employment and migration; adaption to climate change; and productive assets, including access to land and ownership, in the Middle East and North Africa. Her geographical expertise includes Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Sudan. She has also conducted research in Uzbekistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, and India. 

Science Forum 2023 Events

  • Back to the event page

CGIAR Independent Advisory and Evaluation Service (IAES)

Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
Via di San Domenico,1
00153 Rome, Italy
  • IAES@cgiar.org
  • (39-06) 61181

Follow Us

  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
JOIN OUR MAILING LIST
  • Terms and conditions
  • © CGIAR 2025

IAES provides operational support as the secretariat for the Independent Science for Development Council and the Standing Panel on Impact Assessment, and implements CGIAR’s multi-year, independent evaluation plan as approved by the CGIAR’s System Council.